Can opener



June 16, 1942. A. H. PEARsoN v 2,286,303

CAN OPENER Filed June 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fai 47 1a FIGB V l-:: Af Se C) @43 @Y 4l 40 l 44 h y y l 1 '/f- \1 lli y f I 3 ll s 34 x Q G.36- 7 7 i L Jg C) G 3o e Q VMvKQ/J H64 M :mmm

INVENTOR ALANHPEAASOA/ June 16, 1942.

Filed June 2e, V1940 A. H. PEARSON GAN OPENER 3 sheets-sheet 2 ATTO EY.

INVENTOR.

June 16, 1942 A. H. PEARsoN 2,286,303

CAN OPENER Filed June 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 77 INVENTORAAN/Pfneso/v Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED- sTATEs PATENT OFFICE CANOPENER Alan H. Pearson, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 26, 1940, Serial No. 342,509

Claims. (Cl. 30-4) My invention relates to a new and useful improvementin a can opener of the power driven type so arranged and constructedthat a can may be easily and quickly opened by power.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction soarranged that a cutting element may be caused to move relatively to andaround a can sufficiently for cutting the top therefrom. l

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism in whichthe can and the cutting element may be caused to move relatively to eachother prior to the cutting operation so as to effect a piercing of thecan by the cutting element prior to the beginning of the cuttingoperation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of thistype so arranged and constructed that upon the piercing of the can bythe cutting element,v the power driven mechanism for eifecting arelative rotation of the cutting element of the can will automaticallybe turned on and set into operation.

Another object of the invention is a provision of a device of this typewhich is simple in structure, economical in manufacture, durable,compact, light, possessed of a minimum number of parts and easily andquickly operated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of power driven meansfor rotating the can after the piercing operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism forrotating the can and rotating the cutting element after the piercingoperation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of thisclass of a cam operated raising and lowering mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a can opener of thisclass of a, levelling device for maintaining the can at the proper levelfor cutting.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that variations, modifications and changes may be madein the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the spiritof the invention and it is intended that such variations andmodifications shall be embraced in the scope of the claims appended.

Forming a part of thespecication are drawings, in which: K

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing a can appliedwithl a part of the housing broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention with a part brokenaway.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view vtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,slightly reduced.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, snghuy reduced.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another form of the invention witha part of the housing broken away.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the invention taken onsubstantially line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

.Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a modified form of head with partsbroken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the head shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2--I2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical, longitudinal view showing a modifiedform of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical, sectional view showing another formof the head.

In the invention as shown in Fig. 1 I provide a base I1 projectingupwardly from which is a housing having a rear wall I8 and side walls I9and 20. The side walls are provided with an inwardly turned flange 2l atthe forward ends thereof, these flanges being spaced apart and extended.vertically. Secured by bolts or in any other suitable manner on theseflanges are the plates 22 each having a tongue 23 extending inwardlyfrom the inner edge thereof in spaced relation to the ange 2l to providea channel 24 in which engagesa tongue 25 projecting outwardly from theopposite edges of the plate 26 so that the plate 26 is slidably mountedon the housing. Mounted on the front face of this plate is a wear plate2l.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end of the plate 26 is a saddle28 having the lower wall 29 and the upper wall 29. Extended through theside walls of the housing and journalled therein is a shaft 30 on whichis fixedly mounted, exterior of the housing, a crank 3| for rocking theshaft 30. Fixedly mounted on this shaft between the plates 29 and 29'and engaging the inner faces of these plates is a cam disc 32 which is acircular disc eccentrically mounted on the shaft 30 so that as the crank3| is raised and lowered, the plate 26 will be lowered and raised.

Mounted on the plate 28 is a gear housing 34 into which extends theshaft 35 of an electric motor 38. Mounted on the housing is a switch box31 having a switch therein for controlling the motor 36. A plunger 38which is normally spring pressed outwardly to retain the switch in openposition is provided and adapted to engage the periphery of a cam 39which is iixedly mounted on the shaft 38.

Projecting from the gear box 34 is a shaft 48 on which is mounted abevel gear 4| meshing with the bevel gear 42 iixedly mounted on theshaft 43 on which is also fixedly mounted a roller 44 having a knurledperiphery. Mounted on the head 45 is a bearing 48 in which is supporteda shaft 41 on which is mounted a cutting disc 48. It will be noted thatthe axis of this cutting disc is extended angularly to the axis of theroller 44.

In operation a can 52 having a bead 49 is placed with the periphery ofthe can engagingH the wear plate 21 and the bead 49 overlying andengaging the periphery of the roller 44. The crank 3| is then rockeddownwardly which will serve to elevate the motor 36, the bracket 34 andthe shaft 43 with the associated parts. This will move the can 52upwardly into engagement with the cutting disc and force the cuttingdisc 48 to pierce the can. As this piercing is effected, the cam 39 willmove the switch plunger 33 inwardly to close the circuit to the motor 36to effect A can levelling bracket 226 provided with the downwardlyprojecting portion 221 is mounted between the head and provided with acutaway portion for accommodating the plate or disc 48. The purpose ofthe outwardly extending portion 226 is to provide a surface againstwhich the can may be pressed so that it will be at the proper angle.

With a mechanism operating in this manner an easy and quick cutting ofthe can is effected with a minimum loss of time and with a minimumamount of danger, cutting a perfect opening in the can.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 I have provided a base l1' projectingupwardly from which is a housing embodying a rear wall i8' and sidewalls' i9 and 20', these side walls being connected together by a frontwalll 53 on which is mounted a plate 54 carrying a centrally disposedware plate 55.

Formed on the interior surface of side walls I9 and 28 are bosses 56 and51 in which slidably engage the rods 58 and 59 which project through'and are secured to the slidable head 60, suitable nuts 6| being securedon the ends of the rods 58 and 59 so that the head is in fixed relationto the rods. The plate 62 is extended upwardly and secuned to the head60. Formed in this plate 52 is a slot 63 through which is projected theshaft 43' on which is iixedly mounted the roller 44 having a knurledperiphery. This shaft 43' is journalled in the bearing 50' which ismounted on the front wall 53 at the slot 83. A bevel gear 42 which isflxedly mounted on the shaft 43 and meshes with the bevel gear 4I'mounted on the shaft 40 projecting outwardly from the gear box 34.Ashaft 35 from the electric motor 36' projects into the gear box 34' andserves to rotate the gears therein. The rods 58 and 58 are connected tothe saddle having the upper and lower legs |28 and |28 relativelyconnected to a wall 28', this saddle being slidably mounted so that asit moves upwardly or downwardly the rods 58 and 59 will also moveupwardly or downwardly to move the head 80 upwardly or downwardly.Projected through the side walls I9 and 28 of the housing is a shaft 38carrying the eccentric discs 32 xedly mounted thereon and adapted toengage the legs |29 and |29' of the saddle. Fixedly mounted on the shaft38' external of the housing is a crank 3|' whereby the shaft may berotated to raise-or lower the haed 68. This head 68 carries ahearing 45'in which is journalled a shaft 41 on which the rotatable cutting disc 48is mounted. It will be noted that the axis of the disc 48' is extendedangularly to the knurled roller 44'.

In operation, the can 52 would be placed with its bead 49 overlying andengaging roller 44. The crank 3| would then be rocked to bring thecutter 48 downwardly and effect a piercing of the can 52'. As thispiercing is effected the cam 39 would force the switch control plungerinwardly to close the circuit to the motor 30' so that the roller 44'would be rotated, thus effecting the rotation of the can 52'. Thisconstruction is quite similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 1,excepting that, in Fig. 1 the cutter is stationary and the roller ismoved toward the cutter, and in Fig. 6 the rotating roller 44 is mountedin fixed bearings and the cutter is moved toward the roller. The sameefllciency and ease of operation claimed for the structure in Fig. 1 isalso present in the structure shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig, 10 I have shown a slightly modified form of structure in which ahead 60' is extended outwardly to provide a track having. a slot 12formed therein so that the head 13 carrying the rotatable cutter 14 maybe slid longitudinally of the groove or track 12. This head 13 carries astud 15 having a head 18 engaging in the groove 12. By loosening the nut11 on the stud 15, the head 13 may be slid inwardly or outwardly of thehead 88 thus making it possible to adjust the device to various sizecans or positions of opening. In this structure the roller 19 is drivenin the manner already illustrated for rotating the can and the head 13is movable toward or away from the roller 19.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a slightly modified form of construction inwhich a movable head 60" is provided with a cutter 18 which is driven bythe gearing 19 and 88 on the shaft 8| proceeding from a gear box on amotor. In this structure I have arranged a mechanism whereby the cuttingelement is rotated and the knurledl rol1er`i82--is rotatable but'on afixed bearing so that a rotation of the can must be eiected manually.

and lower the mechanism on the rods 58 and 59' which project in themanner explained for the structure illustrated in Fig. 6.

What I claim as new is:

1. A can opener of the class described, comprising: a base standardprojecting upwardly from said base; a supporting mechanism slidablymounted on said standard; a can rotating means carried by saidsupporting mechanism; a cutting member-carried by said standard; cammeans for raising and lowering said supporting mechanism and moving awith said cutting means; means for operating said can rotating means;and control means for controlling said operating means and eiectingoperation of the same upon the raising of a can into engagement withsaid cutting mechanism.

2. A can opener of the class described, comprising a base; a standardprojecting upwardly from said base; a supporting mechanism slidablymounted on said standard and movable vertically'thereon; a can rotatingmember; means for rotating said can rotating member; a. cam meehanismfor raising and lowering said supporting mechanism: and a control memberfor controlling said rotating means and eiecting an operation of thesame upon the raising of said supporting mechanism a predetermined`distance.

3. A can opener of the class described, comprising a base, a standardprojecting upwardly from said base: a supporting mechanism slidablymounted on said standard and movably upwardly and downwardly thereon; acan rotating mechanism carried by said supporting mechanism; means forrotating said can rotating mechanism, also carried by said supportingmechanism; a rotatable cam for raising and lowering said supportingmechanism; a crank for rotating said cam; and means for operating saidcan into engagement rotating means upon the raising of said supportingmechanism to a predetermined distance.

4. A can opener of the class described comprising base; a supportingstandard projecting upwardly from base; a supporting mechanism slidablymounted on said standard and movable upwardly and downwardly thereon; acan rotating mechanism carried by said supporting mechanism; means forrotating said can rotating mechanism, said rotating means being mountedon said supporting mechanism and movable therewith; a cam for raisingand lowering said supporting mechanism; a crank for operating said cam;a means for operating said rotating mechanism upon the raising of saidsupporting mechanism a predetermined distance; and an element carried bysaid standard and engageable with said can upon the raising of the samea predetermined distance.

5. A can opener of the class described comprising base; a supportingstandard projecting upwardly from base; a supporting mechanism slidablymounted on said standard and movable upwardly and downwardly thereon; acan rotating mechanism carried by said supporting mechanism, means forrotating said can rotating mechanism, said rotating means being mountedon said supporting mechanism and movable therewith; a cam for raisingand lowering said supporting mechanism; a crank for operating said cam;a means for operating said rotating mechanism upon the raising of saidsupporting mechanism a predetermined distance; and an element carried-bysaid standard and engageable with said can upon the raising of the samea predetermined distance, and means for adjusting said cutting mechanismradially of said can.

ALAN H. PEARSON.

